Legislative Update for Virginia Athletic Trainers Assn
Friday March 7, 2025


BillPatronTitleSynopsisUpcoming HearingsStatus
HB 1626 Mike A. Cherry; Joshua E. Thomas Public Elementary & Secondary School Teachers; Certain Training Activities, Requirements, Etc. Public elementary and secondary school teachers; certain training activities; requirements and limitations. Prohibits any public elementary or secondary school teacher from being required to participate in any non-academic training activity, as that term is defined in the bill, more frequently than once within six months of employment with the applicable school board and once every five years thereafter, except in the case of certain training relating to secure mandatory test violations upon determination by the school board or division superintendent that additional training is necessary. The bill also provides that the total frequency and duration of non-academic training activities in which each such teacher is required to participate pursuant to state law or regulation or policy or regulation of the applicable school board shall not exceed 25 hours every five years. This bill is identical to SB 822. C Amended by conference committee (2/21)
HB 1647 C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr. Board Of Medicine; Licensure Of Anesthesiologist Assistants. Board of Medicine; licensure of anesthesiologist assistants. Establishes criteria for the licensure of anesthesiologist assistants and directs the Board of Medicine to adopt regulations governing the practice of anesthesiologist assistants. The bill provides that no person shall use or assume the title 'anesthesiologist assistant' or hold himself out as an anesthesiologist assistant unless such person holds a license as an anesthesiologist assistant issued by the Board. H Left in Health and Human Services (2/5)
HB 1649 C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr. Board Of Medicine; Continuing Education; Unconscious Bias And Cultural Competency. Board of Medicine; continuing education; unconscious bias and cultural competency. Directs the Board of Medicine to require unconscious bias and cultural competency training as part of the continuing education requirements for renewal of licensure. The bill specifies requirements for the training and requires the Board of Medicine to report on the training to the Department of Health and the Virginia Neonatal Perinatal Collaborative. This bill is identical to SB 740. G Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025 (2/18)
HB 1656 Dan I. Helmer; Karen Keys-Gamarra; Sam Rasoul Public Secondary Schools; Interscholastic Athletics; Certain Recruitment Policies And Practices Prohibited. Public secondary schools; interscholastic athletics; certain recruitment policies and practices prohibited. Prohibits any school board employee, including any interscholastic athletics coach or director, from implementing any policy or engaging in any practice whereby the employee (i) designates any secondary school student-athlete as homeless pursuant to the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, as amended, solely for the purpose of recruiting such student-athlete to transfer to the local school division to participate in interscholastic athletics or (ii) receives money or other things of value from any individual or entity, including any institution of higher education or any intercollegiate athletics program at such an institution, solely for the purpose of recruiting a secondary school student-athlete to participate in intercollegiate athletics. H Failed to pass (2/7)
HB 1663 Michael J. Jones Public Schools; Guidelines And Policies On Student-athlete Extreme Heat Safety And Protection. Public schools; interscholastic sports and athletics; guidelines and policies on student-athlete extreme heat safety and protection; development and implementation. Requires the Board of Education to develop, biennially review and update as necessary, and distribute to each local school division guidelines on policies relating to extreme heat safety and protection for student-athletes. The bill requires each school board to develop and update, in accordance with the guidelines developed by the Board, policies on student-athlete extreme heat safety and protection that (i) are consistent with any heat guidelines based on Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) levels developed by an organization or entity whose purpose it is to regulate or govern interscholastic athletics programs in the Commonwealth; (ii) establish tiered heat-acclimatization and modification procedures for outdoor athletics practices or games based on the WBGT levels to reduce the risks associated with extreme heat faced by student-athletes; (iii) require student-athletes to be given unhindered access to hydration at all times; (iv) include procedures relating to preventing, recognizing, and addressing heat-related illnesses; and (v) establish a process for reporting and investigating any instance in which a student-athlete experiences a heat-related illness requiring emergency medical treatment or resulting in death. This bill is identical to SB 1104. H Senate substitute agreed to by House (79-Y 17-N) (2/19)
HB 1670 Michael J. Jones Health Insurance; Cost-sharing For Epinephrine Injectors. Health insurance; cost-sharing for epinephrine injectors. Prohibits health insurance companies and other carriers from setting an amount exceeding $60 for a two-pack of covered epinephrine injectors that a covered person is required to pay at the point of sale. The bill also prohibits a provider contract between a carrier or its pharmacy benefits manager and a pharmacy from containing a provision (i) authorizing the carrier's pharmacy benefits manager or the pharmacy to charge, (ii) requiring the pharmacy to collect, or (iii) requiring a covered person to make a cost-sharing payment for a covered two-pack of epinephrine injectors in an amount that exceeds such limitation. H Left in Labor and Commerce (2/5)
HB 1675 C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr. Board Of Medicine; Continuing Education; Unconscious Bias And Cultural Competency. Board of Medicine; continuing education; unconscious bias and cultural competency. Directs the Board of Medicine to require unconscious bias and cultural competency training as part of the continuing education requirements for renewal of licensure. The bill specifies requirements for the training and requires the Board of Medicine to report on the training to the Department of Health. This bill is a recommendation of the Joint Commission on Health Care. S Passed Senate (23-Y 16-N) (2/18)
HB 1678 Laura Jane Cohen; Atoosa R. Reaser; Karen Keys-Gamarra; Nadarius E. Clark School Board Policies; Parental Notification; Safe Storage Of Prescription Drugs And Firearms In The Household. School board policies; parental notification; safe storage of prescription drugs and firearms in the household. Requires each local school board to develop and implement a policy to require the annual notification of the parent of each student enrolled in the local school division, to be sent by email and, if applicable, SMS text message within 30 calendar days succeeding the first day of each school year, of (i) the importance of securely storing any prescription drug, as defined in relevant law, present in the household and (ii) the parent's legal responsibility to safely store any firearm present in the household. The bill requires each school board to make such parental notification available in multiple languages on its website. This bill is identical to SB 1048. G Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025 (2/18)
HB 1695 Alex Q. Askew Public Elementary & Secondary Schools; Cardiac Emergency Response Or Emergency Action Plans. Public elementary and secondary schools; cardiac emergency response or emergency action plans required. Requires each public elementary or secondary school to develop a cardiac emergency response plan (CERP) or an athletic emergency action plan (EAP), as those terms are defined in the bill, that addresses the appropriate use of school personnel to respond to incidents involving an individual who is experiencing sudden cardiac arrest or a similar life-threatening emergency while on school grounds and, in the event that such school has an athletic department or organized athletic program, while attending or participating in an athletic practice or event. The bill requires each such CERP or athletic EAP to integrate nationally recognized evidence-based core elements and nationally recognized evidence-based guidelines and to integrate certain additional provisions and guidelines, including those relating to establishing a cardiac emergency response team, activating such team in response to a sudden cardiac event, and integrating the CERP or athletic EAP into the local community's emergency medical services response protocols. This bill is identical to SB 817. C Amended by conference committee (2/21)
HB 1809 Delores Oates; Anne Ferrell Tata K-12 Schools And Higher Educational Institutions; Student Participation In Women's Sports, Etc. K-12 schools and institutions of higher education; student participation in women's sports; civil cause of action. Requires each interscholastic, intercollegiate, intramural, or club athletic team or sport sponsored by a public school, or any other school that is a member of the Virginia High School League, or by a public institution of higher education to be expressly designated as one of the following based on the biological sex of the students who participate on the team or in the sport: (i) males, men, or boys; (ii) females, women, or girls; or (iii) coed or mixed if participation on such team or sport is open to both males and females. The bill requires that the biological sex of any student seeking to participate on such an expressly designated team be affirmed by a signed physician's statement. The bill prohibits any such team or sport that is expressly designated for females from being open to students whose biological sex is male. The bill prohibits any government entity, licensing or accrediting organization, or athletic association or organization from entertaining a complaint, opening an investigation, or taking any other adverse action against any such school or institution of higher education based on a violation of the provisions of the bill and creates a cause of action for any school or institution of higher education that suffers harm as a result of a violation of the bill. Finally, the bill creates a civil cause of action for any student who suffers harm as a result of a knowing violation of a provision of the bill by a school or institution or as a result of the student's reporting a violation of a provision of the bill by a school, institution, athletic association, or organization. H Left in Rules (2/4)
HB 1976 Candi Mundon King; Destiny LeVere Bolling; Karen Keys-Gamarra; Katrina Callsen; Amy J. Laufer High-risk Pregnant Patients; Remote Patient Monitoring Services Available To Patients. Department of Medical Assistance Services; remote patient monitoring; high-risk pregnant patients. Directs the Department of Medical Assistance Services to amend its regulations, guidance, and provider manuals to clarify that remote patient monitoring services for high-risk pregnant patients include pregnant patients with maternal diabetes and maternal hypertension. The bill requires the Department to submit a report to the Governor and the General Assembly by November 1, 2025, on the number of persons receiving remote patient monitoring services for maternal diabetes and maternal hypertension and the cost of providing such services. S Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N) (2/18)
HB 2104 Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker Seizure Rescue Meds.; Administration By Certain School Employees, Possession By Certain Students. Seizure rescue medications; administration by certain school employees; possession by certain students. Permits a prescriber to authorize an employee of (i) a school board, (ii) a school for students with disabilities, (iii) an accredited private school, (iv) a local governing body, or (v) a local health department who is trained in the administration of seizure rescue medications for the treatment of seizures resulting from a condition causing seizures to administer such medications to a student diagnosed with a condition causing seizures when the student is believed to be experiencing or about to experience a seizure pursuant to a written order or standing protocol issued within the course of the prescriber's professional practice and with the consent of the student's parents. The bill provides that any such authorized employee who administers or assists in the administration of such medications to a student diagnosed with a condition causing seizures when the student is believed to be experiencing or about to experience a seizure in accordance with the prescriber's instructions shall not be liable for any civil damages for ordinary negligence in acts or omissions resulting from the rendering of such treatment. The bill also permits any local school board to adopt and implement policies (a) permitting any student enrolled in any elementary or secondary school in the local school division who has a diagnosis of a condition causing seizures to possess seizure rescue medications during the school day, at school-sponsored activities, or while on a school bus or other school property if the student's parent has submitted a seizure management and action plan that includes written consent of the parent and written approval of the student's primary care provider for such self-possession or (b) for the administration of seizure rescue medications to any student enrolled in any elementary or secondary school in the local school division who has a diagnosis of a condition causing seizures, consistent with the provisions of the bill relating to prescriber authorization. This bill is identical to SB 1036. G Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025 (3/3)
HB 2374 Mike A. Cherry Department Of Professional And Occupational Regulation; Deregulation Of Athlete Agents. Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation; deregulation of athlete agents. Repeals certain provisions of the Code related to the regulation of athlete agents and makes it a prohibited practice under the Virginia Consumer Protection Act to accept compensation for representing a student athlete without a properly executed agency contract. H Left in General Laws (2/5)
HB 2403 Geary Higgins School Boards; Panic Alarm Systems In Each School Required. School boards; panic alarm systems in each school required. Requires each school board to equip each public elementary and secondary school building in the local school division with a panic alarm system that includes at least one panic alarm device in each classroom or other room in the building which students will be present and that adheres to nationally recognized industry standards. The bill defines 'panic alarm system' as a silent security system by which the user manually activates a device that sends a non-audible signal to the local 9-1-1 public safety answering point that indicates a school security emergency that requires immediate response and assistance from such public safety answering point, including a non-fire evacuation, lockdown, medical emergency, or active shooter situation. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2026. H Left in Education (2/4)
HB 2420 Michael J. Webert Intercollegiate Athletics Program Coaches; Mental Health First Aid Or Similar Training Required. Public institutions of higher education; intercollegiate athletics program coaches; Mental Health First Aid or similar training required. Requires each coach of an intercollegiate athletics program at a public institution of higher education to participate in Mental Health First Aid training or a similar programwithin one year ofthe commencement of his duties. S Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N) (2/18)
HB 2421 Michael J. Webert Intercollegiate Athletics Programs; Certain Intrastate Competition Required. Baccalaureate public institutions of higher education; intercollegiate athletics programs; certain intrastate competition required. Requires the board of visitors of each baccalaureate public institution of higher education that is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) to ensure that each intercollegiate athletics program that contributes to the institution's athletics revenue competes at least once every eight years against the intercollegiate athletics program in the same sport and in the same NCAA division at each other baccalaureate public institution of higher education. The bill provides that the foregoing provisions shall not be construed to prohibit or affect any contract or agreement between baccalaureate public institutions of higher education for the provision and receipt of compensation for competition between their intercollegiate athletics programs. H Left in Education (2/4)
HB 2439 Jackie H. Glass Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact; Enters The Commonwealth Into Compact. Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact. Enters the Commonwealth into the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact, the purpose of which is to facilitate the mobility of teachers across the member states, with the goal of supporting teachers through a new pathway to licensure. The Compact is presently in effect, as it has reached the enactment threshold of 10 state members. H Left in Education (2/4)
HB 2606 R. Lee Ware Education, Board Of; Regulations Relating To Special Education Due Process Hearings. Students with disabilities; due process hearings; certain complaints. Requires the Board of Education to amend its regulations relating to due process hearings for students with disabilities to provide that if a special education due process hearing officer determines that a due process hearing complaint contains substantially the same issues as a previously adjudicated due process complaint evidencing a clear pattern of initiating vexatious and repetitive litigation, the hearing officer may dismiss the complaint and report such abuse of the due process hearing system to the Virginia Department of Education. C Amended by conference committee (2/21)
HB 2770 Thomas A. Garrett, Jr. Virginia School Safety Preparedness Fund And Program; Created And Established, Report. School safety procedures; emergency situations; annual training; safety grants. H Left in Education (2/4)
SB 799 Barbara A. Favola School Health Services Committee; Extends Sunset Date. School Health Services Committee; sunset. Extends from July 1, 2025, to July 1, 2028, the sunset date for the School Health Services Committee. H Passed House (98-Y 0-N) (2/20)
SB 817 Aaron R. Rouse Public Elementary & Secondary Schools; Cardiac Emergency Response Or Emergency Action Plans. Public elementary and secondary schools; cardiac emergency response or emergency action plans required. Requires each public elementary or secondary school to develop a cardiac emergency response plan (CERP) or an athletic emergency action plan (EAP), as those terms are defined in the bill, that addresses the appropriate use of school personnel to respond to incidents involving an individual who is experiencing sudden cardiac arrest or a similar life-threatening emergency while on school grounds and, in the event that such school has an athletic department or organized athletic program, while attending or participating in an athletic practice or event. The bill requires each such CERP or athletic EAP to integrate nationally recognized evidence-based core elements and nationally recognized evidence-based guidelines and to integrate certain additional provisions and guidelines, including those relating to establishing a cardiac emergency response team, activating such team in response to a sudden cardiac event, and integrating the CERP or athletic EAP into the local community's emergency medical services response protocols. This bill is identical to HB 1695. G Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025 (3/3)
SB 826 Mamie E. Locke Predetermination For Licensing Eligibility; Prior Convictions. Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation; Department of Health Professions; predetermination for licensing eligibility; prior convictions. Prohibits the use of vague or arbitrary terms by a regulatory board within the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation or Department of Health when refusing a person a license, certificate, or registration to practice, pursue, or engage in any regulated occupation or profession. The bill requires such regulatory board denying a registration, license, or certificate based on information in the applicant's criminal history record to notify the applicant in writing of (i) the specific offense or offenses that contributed to such denial; (ii) how the criminal history directly relates to the occupation for which the registration, license, or certificate applies; and (iii) how the regulatory board weighed rehabilitation factors when making its decision. The bill further allows an applicant to request a written predetermination from a regulatory board within the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation concerning whether his criminal record would disqualify him from obtaining a license, certificate, registration, or other authority to engage in a particular occupation, trade, or profession in the Commonwealth. G Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025 (3/5)
SB 986 Angelia Williams Graves Assault And Battery; Class 1 Misdemeanor Against Sports Official. Assault and battery; sports official; penalty. Makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor for a person to commit an assault or assault and battery against another knowing or having reason to know that such individual is a sports official, defined in the bill, for an entity sponsoring an interscholastic or intercollegiate sports event or any person performing services as a sports official for a public entity or a private, nonprofit organization that sponsors an amateur sports event who is engaged in the performance of his duties. The bill requires such person, upon conviction, be prohibited from attending any such sports event operated by the entity or organization that employed such sports official for a period of not less than six months as a term and condition of such sentence. S House substitute agreed to by Senate (37-Y 2-N) (2/20)
SB 1030 Stella G. Pekarsky Public Middle And High Schools; Student Athletes, Pre-participation Physical Examination Required. Public middle and high schools; student athletes; pre-participation physical examination required. Provides that no public middle or high school student is permitted to be a participant on or try out for any school athletic team or squad with a predetermined roster, regular practices, and scheduled competitions with other middle or high schools unless such student has submitted to the school principal a signed report from a licensed physician, licensed advanced practice registered nurse, or licensed physician assistant acting under the supervision of a licensed physician attesting that such student has received a physical examination and was found to be physically fit for athletic competition no more than 14 calendar months prior to the date on which such report was signed. Current law requires that the signed report attest that any such student has received a physical examination within the preceding 12 months. The bill prohibits any public middle or high school from becoming a member of any organization or entity that regulates or governs interscholastic programs that does not deem eligible for participation any student who has satisfied the requirements for eligibility in accordance with the provisions of the bill. S House substitute agreed to by Senate (39-Y 0-N) (2/20)
SB 1036 Stella G. Pekarsky Seizure Rescue Meds.; Administration By Certain School Employees, Possession By Certain Students. Seizure rescue medications; administration by certain school employees; possession by certain students. Permits a prescriber to authorize an employee of (i) a school board, (ii) a school for students with disabilities, (iii) an accredited private school, (iv) a local governing body, or (v) a local health department who is trained in the administration of seizure rescue medications for the treatment of seizures resulting from a condition causing seizures to administer such medications to a student diagnosed with a condition causing seizures when the student is believed to be experiencing or about to experience a seizure pursuant to a written order or standing protocol issued within the course of the prescriber's professional practice and with the consent of the student's parents. The bill provides that any such authorized employee who administers or assists in the administration of such medications to a student diagnosed with a condition causing seizures when the student is believed to be experiencing or about to experience a seizure in accordance with the prescriber's instructions shall not be liable for any civil damages for ordinary negligence in acts or omissions resulting from the rendering of such treatment. The bill also permits any local school board to adopt and implement policies (a) permitting any student enrolled in any elementary or secondary school in the local school division who has a diagnosis of a condition causing seizures to possess seizure rescue medications during the school day, at school-sponsored activities, or while on a school bus or other school property if the student's parent has submitted a seizure management and action plan that includes written consent of the parent and written approval of the student's primary care provider for such self-possession or (b) for the administration of seizure rescue medications to any student enrolled in any elementary or secondary school in the local school division who has a diagnosis of a condition causing seizures, consistent with the provisions of the bill relating to prescriber authorization. This bill is identical to HB 2104. G Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025 (3/5)
SB 1104 Lashrecse D. Aird; Ghazala F. Hashmi Public Schools; Guidelines And Policies On Student-athlete Extreme Heat Safety And Protection. Public schools; interscholastic sports and athletics; guidelines and policies on student-athlete extreme heat safety and protection; development and implementation. Requires the Board of Education to develop, biennially review and update as necessary, and distribute to each local school division guidelines on policies relating to extreme heat safety and protection for student-athletes. The bill requires each school board to develop and update, in accordance with the guidelines developed by the Board, policies on student-athlete extreme heat safety and protection that (i) are consistent with any heat guidelines based on Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) levels developed by an organization or entity whose purpose it is to regulate or govern interscholastic athletics programs in the Commonwealth; (ii) establish tiered heat-acclimatization and modification procedures for outdoor athletics practices or games based on the WBGT levels to reduce the risks associated with extreme heat faced by student-athletes; (iii) require student-athletes to be given unhindered access to hydration at all times; (iv) include procedures relating to preventing, recognizing, and addressing heat-related illnesses; and (v) establish a process for reporting and investigating any instance in which a student-athlete experiences a heat-related illness requiring emergency medical treatment or resulting in death. This bill is identical to HB 1663. H Passed House (80-Y 18-N) (2/20)
SB 1217 R. Creigh Deeds Higher Educational Institutions, Baccalaureate Public; Intercollegiate Athletics Programs, Etc. Baccalaureate public institutions of higher education; boards of visitors; intercollegiate athletics programs; athletics revenue and subsidy requirements; report. Amends provisions relating to intercollegiate athletics programs and athletics revenue requirements by expanding the allocations of athletics revenues that may be excluded from the subsidy for the purposes of calculating the subsidy percentage, as defined by applicable law, to include athletics revenues allocated to medical expenses and insurance. The bill also directs the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to (a) study the impact of the provisions of the bill on intercollegiate athletics in the Commonwealth and make recommendations on any further legislative action or policy considerations that should be made based on the impact of the provisions of the bill on intercollegiate athletics in the Commonwealth and (b) submit a report on its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the chairs of the Senate Committee on Education and Health, the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations, the House Committee on Education, and the House Committee on Appropriations by November 15, 2025. The bill has an expiration date of July 1, 2026. H Tabled in Rules (18-Y 0-N) (2/17)
SB 1290 R. Creigh Deeds Health Insurance; Reimbursement For Services Rendered By Certain Practitioners. Health insurance; reimbursement for services rendered by certain practitioners other than physicians. Requires health insurers and health service plan providers whose accident and sickness insurance policies or subscription contracts cover services that may be legally performed by a physician assistant to provide equal coverage for such services when rendered by a licensed athletic trainer when such services are performed in an office setting. Additionally, the bill requires the reimbursement or payment for a service provided by certain licensed practitioners listed in the bill to be in the same amount as the reimbursement or payment paid under such policy or subscription contract to a licensed physician performing such service in the area served. S Passed by indefinitely in Commerce and Labor with letter (15-Y 0-N) (2/3)
SB 1320 Lamont Bagby Preparticipation Physical Evaluation; Children's Cardiac Safety. Middle and high school student-athletes; preparticipation physical evaluation; timeline; form. Prohibits middle or high school students from participating in or trying out for any interscholastic athletic team unless such student has submitted a signed Preparticipation Physical Evaluation form from certain licensed providers attesting the student received a physical examination and was found fit for athletic competition no more than 14 calendar months prior to the date on which such form was signed. S House substitute agreed to by Senate (39-Y 0-N) (2/20)
SB 1363 Todd E. Pillion Health Professions, Board Of; Transfer Of Powers And Duties. Elimination of Board of Health Professions; transfer of powers and duties. Eliminates the Board of Health Professions and transfers certain powers and duties from the Board to the Department of Health Professions. G Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025 (3/5)
SB 1438 Tara A. Durant Health Regulatory Boards; Regulations, Licensure By Endorsement. Department of Health Professions; health regulatory boards; regulations; licensure by endorsement. Directs each health regulatory board regulated by the Department of Health Professions to enact regulations to provide a licensure by endorsement pathway for qualified applicants as practitioners of the particular profession or professions regulated by such board. The bill specifies that the Board of Medicine shall be the first health regulatory board to enact regulations to provide a licensure by endorsement pathway. This bill is identical to HB 1861. G Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025 (3/3)